Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane pulled England’s Euro 2024 campaign out of the fire with a dramatic turnaround against Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen.
Back at the ground where Portugal beat the Three Lions on penalties to knock them out of the 2006 World Cup, this similarly gifted England vintage suffered a humiliation to rank alongside their Iceland debacle at Euro 2016 after Ivan Schranz gave Slovakia a deserved 25th-minute lead.
Leading England for the 99th time, Gareth Southgate looked sure to be heading out of a job deep into stoppage time at the Veltins Arena. Phil Foden had a goal chalked off for offside, Kane missed a sitter and Declan Rice hit the post, but much of the their play was horribly listless once more.
Then, after throwing Ivan Toney on as an extra striker, Southgate saw Kyle Walker launch a long-throw that Marc Guehi flicked on and Real Madrid star Bellingham converted with a fantastic overhead kick.
Slovakia were still scrambled as extra time got underway and, after fellow substitute Eberechi Eze sliced a shot, Toney nodded across goal for Kane to capitalise and join Bellingham on two goals for the tournament.
England vs. Slovakia live score
| ET 2nd Half | Goal scorers | |
| England | 2 | Bellingham 90+5′, Kane 91′ |
| Slovakia | 1 | Schranz 25′ |
Venue: Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen
Referee: Umut Meler (TUR)
Lineups:
England (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Pickford (GK) — 2. Walker, 5. Stones, 6. Guehi, 12. Trippier (24. Palmer)  — 26. Mainoo (24. Eze), 4. Rice — 7. Saka, 10. Bellingham (14. Konsa), 11. Foden (17. Toney) — 9. Kane (16. Gallagher).
Slovakia (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Dubravka (GK) — 2. Pekarik, 3. Vavro, 14. Skriniar, 16. Hancko — 19. Kucka, 22. Lobotka, 8. Duda (11. Benes) — 26. Schranz (3. Gyomber), 18. Strelec (9. Bozenik), 17. Haraslin (7. Suslov).